Track-cleaning device



O. J. OLSON.

TRAC K CLEANING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2,192!- 1,416,231 Patented. May 16, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- INVENTOR.

O. J. OLSON.

TRACK CLEANING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2,1921- Patented. May 16, 1922..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

"- OLE .r. oLsoN, or NASHUA, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR or oNZE-HAL TQ PETER R. RUST, or

GLASGOW, MONTANA.

' .TRAOK-CLEAIN'INGDEVICE.

To all 107mm it maycon-( ern;- i

Be it known that I, OLnJ. ()LsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashua, in the county of Valley and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Cleaning Devices, of Whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

.This invention relates to improvements in track cleaning devices and more particularly to a device adapted for removing excess ballast and cinders from between the rails of the track. An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which removes the cinders, ballast or the like from ,between the tracks and deposits the same at the side of the track or into a vehicle beside the track. i

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is extremely simple in construction and easy to operate, and the parts of which are so constructed that they have a maximum length of life.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent throughout the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my track cleaner; I

Figure 2 is a. side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal view taken therethrough, and

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-41 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates flanged car wheels adapted to travelupon the rails 11 of the track and arranged in pairs to support a frame 12.

The frame 12 has extending upwardly therefrom adjacent the rear end thereof, spaced supports 14 having pivotally mounted therebetween side frames 15 inclining downwardly toward the rear end of the frame and having their lower ends arranged in proximity to the right-of-way between the tracks. In the side frames 15 adjacent the ends thereof are mounted upper and lower Specification of Letters Patent.

surface of the fl Patented May 16, 1922. Serial N'o. 4 18,990.

ishafts 16 and17, approximately alined with the ends of a flooring 18' extending between the side frames. The shafts 16 and 17 have mounted thereon drums 19 upon which are mountedspaced belts 20 having secured thereto flights 20 which in the travel of the belts upon theirupper run engage the upper oring 18 with a scraping action. a

To one of the side frames 15 an adjustment lever 21 is secured providing means whereby the angular positioning of the side frames and conveyor may be attained. The rear end of the lever 21 coacts with a vertical standard 22 having formed therein notches 23 adapted to secure the lever in the inoperative or operative positions as may be desired. Pivotally secured to the lower ends of the side members 15 are the angular side portions 24 of a scraper member 25, the lower end of which when the conveyor is in the operative position extends downwardly so that it passes immediately above the line of the upper surface of the ties of the track. Mounted in the angular side portions 24 of the scraper member 25 adjacent the lower end thereof is a transversely extending shaft 26 forming the pivotal connection between the side members 15 and the scraper and having secured thereto radially extending blades 27. To the upper end of the supports 14 a transversely extending member 14 is secured having extending upwardly therefrom approximately centrally thereof, a stem or guide member 28 which is directed through an opening formed in the upper end of the scraper member 25. A coil spring 29 surrounds the guide member 28 intermediate the transverse member 1 1 and the guide member, normally forcing the upper end of the guide member upwardly for engagement with a pin 30.

Each of the rear wheels 10 of the device has secured thereto or formedthereon, one of a pair of complementary clutch sections, as at 31. and the axles of these wheels are extended beyond the outer surfaces thereof as indicated at 32. These axles form a mounting for sprocket wheels 33, the sprocket wheel at one side being connected to a sprocket wheel 26 secured to the shaft 26 by a sprocket chain 26 and at the other side being connected to a sprocket wheel 16 secured to the shaft 16 by means of a sprocket chain 16. The sprocket members 33 are provided with the second section of the complementary clutchv sections above mentioned, as at 33 The hubs of the sprocket members 33 are grooved, as at 34, for the reception of shift forks 35 formed upon the ends of levers 36. These levers are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends upon the frame, as at 37, and have their rear endscoacting with adjusting members 36, each provided with stops 36 for holding the levers in operative or inoperative posltions so that the clutch sections may be held in engaged or disengaged positions as desired.

Pivotally mounted upon the frame be.- neath the upper end of the conveyor, to receive material discharged therefrom, is a pan 39, the bearings 40 of the pan being disposed adjacent one side of the frame and the adjacent end of the pan projecting-upon the side of the frame so that it extends beyond the sides of the track, as at 41. Adjacent the opposite end of the pan a standard 42 is secured to the frame and has pivotally mounted thereon a lever 43, one end of which pivotally engages the adjacent end of the pan, as at 44. The ends of the operating levers 21, 36 and 43 are all disposed adjacent an operator seat, as indicated at 45, for facility in handling.

' In the use of my device the same is at- .tached to' a source of power by means of a drawbar 13 or some similar expedient, or the device may be provided with power by which it may be self-propelled, if desired. Upon reaching the seat of operations, the operator engages the lever 21 with his hand elevating the same to engage with the upper notch, and the scraper 25 is brought into engagement with the cinders or similar material intermediate the tracks. The levers 36 are now shifted to engage the clutches causing the shaft 26 with its radial arms to rotate,

and the conveyor belt to shift in the directions suggested b the arrows in Figures 2 and 3. By this action the radial arms throw the cinders collected by the scraper 25 upon the platform of the conveyor where they are carried upwardly by the flights 28 and deposited in the pan 39. When a sufficient quantity has been collected the pan 39 may be tilted to dump the same at one side of the right-of-way from which point it may be collected with a cart or the like.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that in event of the scraper 25 coming into engagement with any solid substance such as the upwardly projecting portion of a crooked tie, the spring 29 will give, permitting the scraper to pass thereover without in ury.

From the foregoing it is believed to be obvious that I have 'constructed a rail cleaning device which is particularly well adapted for the use for which it is intended by reason of the facility with which it may be operated and by reason of the cheapness with which it may be manufactured. It will furthermore be obvious that the structure of the same as hereinabove set forth is capable of some change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention, and I accordingly do notlimit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a track cleaning device, a wheel supported frame, an inclined conveyor frame, side members pivotally connected therewith intermediate their ends, shafts rotatably engaging the ends of said side members, a conveyor'mounted thereon, a scraper embodying angular side portions pivotally engaging the side members of the frames adjacent the lower ends thereof, a blade carrying shaft rotatably engaging the side portions of the members, means for adjusting the angular position of the conveyor, a con nection between a Wheel of the frame and one of the conveyor shafts, a connection between a wheel of the frame andthe blade carrying shaft, and a yieldable connection between the frame and the upper end of the scraper forcing the lower end of the scraper downwardly.

2. In a track cleaning device, a wheel supported frame, supports extending upwardly therefrom, inclined conveyor side members pivotally mounted upon said supports intermediate their ends, shafts rotatably engaging the ends of said side members, a conveyor mounted on the shafts, a scraper embodying angular side portions, a shaft'rotatably mounted in the side portions of the scraper and in the lower ends of the conveyer side members, a yiedable connection between the upper end of the scraper and the frame normally forcing the lower end of the scraper downwardly, a driving connection between one of the wheels of the frame and the conveyor, and a driving connection between one of the wheels of the frame and the last named shaft.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

Y OLE J. OLSON. 

